Initiatives for Sustainable Development Toward the 21st Century

The Kyoto Initiative

Assistance to Developing Countries for Combating Global Warming
Summary

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1. Background

At the June 1997 Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Environment and Development, Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto announced Japan's comprehensive medium- and long-term plan for environmental cooperation. This plan, called the "Initiatives for Sustainable Development Toward the 21st Century" (ISD), indicates the ways Japan will support programs in developing countries to address a wide variety of environmental problems including global warming, air and water pollution,waste disposal, deforestation and loss of marine and terrestrial biodiversity. As the host ofthe 3rd Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to be held in Kyoto in December 1997, Japan hereby presents "The Kyoto Initiative", consisting of strengthened environmental support that focuses on asssisting developing countries combat global warming in the policy framework of the ISD. The Kyoto Initiative, like ISD, will be implemented mainly through the Government of Japan's Official Development Assistance program.

2. The Philosophy

(1) Global Human Security

Global warming is a threat to the survival of mankind and a matter of security in a broad sense.

(2) Ownership and Partnership

It is important both that developing countries exercise initiatives in combating global warming and that advanced and developing countries work together to solve global-scale problems.

(3) Sustainable Development

Japan will continue to carry out financial cooperation and to transfer appropriate technology contributing to both anti-global warming measures and economic developmentwith the aim of achieving both development and protection of the environment.
In countries where poverty is a factor in environmental degradation, Japan will support anti-poverty programs to enable people to escape from the grip of poverty.

3. The Three Pillars of Assistance

(1) Cooperation in Capacity Development

In the five years beginning in FY 1998, Japan will train 3000 people in developing countries in the following fields:

(2) Official Development Assistance loans at the most concessional conditions

Japan will grant ODA loans with the most concessional terms available internationally (0.75% interest rate, 40 year repayment period) to actively promote cooperation in the following fields:

(3) Exploitation and transfer of Japanese technology and know-how

Using technology and know-how acquired in the process of combating its own pollutionand energy problems, Japan will:

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